Wild at St. Louis tonight. Gopher MBB hosts Cleveland State at the Barn.
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy, but MSP flights are unaffected for now. BMTN: https://fluence-media.co/4fPhh9o
The latest on Trump’s picks. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4fQdoB6
Pew Research finds 20% of Americans — including 37% of adults under 30 — regularly consume news from digital influencers. STUDY: https://fluence-media.co/4hQKNgN
Donald Trump has nominated Fox News host and former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy to be transportation secretary. AP: https://fluence-media.co/4hXLuoz
Happy National Monopoly Day!
Blois
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MARTIN: via the NYT, VERBATIM: “The race for chair of the Democratic National Committee may eventually include candidates who are well known across the party, but few are likely to have deeper relationships with the committee members who have a vote in the contest than Ken Martin, the Minnesota Democratic chairman… Mr. Martin said in an interview on Monday that the next party leader would have an opportunity to “reimagine the D.N.C. and focus on some things that they haven’t been doing for some time while also really trying to get at what happened in this last election.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4eIaKfM
TAKE: Martin will be an attractive candidate as Democrats nationally try to figure out “middle America”. His long tenure of growing and leading a party with strong fundraising, and infrastructure making Minnesota an island in the Midwest for Democrats illustrates a non-coastal attitude that the Democratic party could use nationally. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with Gov. Tim Walz and the entire DFL Congressional delegation will offer Martin strong allies. One notable balancing act that Martin doesn’t get enough credit is managing the rift and gap between the DSA and a member of Congress like Rep. Ilhan Omar with the more moderate party members like Rep. Angie Craig. Martin has been DFL Chair since 2011 which is remarkable since turnover in party leadership is common.
ABELER: via news release later today, VERBATIM: “Today Senator Jim Abeler, (R-Anoka) announced his intention run for re-election to Senate District 35, representing the communities of Anoka, Coon Rapids, and Andover. QUOTE: “This year’s election makes clear Minnesotans want leaders who are capable of working across the divide to get things done for their constituents. I have a track record of proven results, bipartisan leadership, and serving people whose voices are too easily drowned out,” Abeler said. “I am eager to meet with my constituents and earn their support for another term in the Minnesota Senate."…Abeler was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in a special election in 2016, and was re-elected in 2016, 2020, and 2022. Prior to that he served in the Minnesota House from 1999-2013. Abeler and his wife Barb have raised six children in the Anoka area.”
COMMITTEES: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “One of the first orders of business in preparing for the upcoming legislative session has been completed. The respective caucus speaker-designates — current House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and current House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) — have jointly announced the House committee structure and the schedule lawmakers will follow when they convene Jan. 14, 2025. The membership of the standing committees and division will be equally divided and chaired by DFL and Republican co-chairs. Committee membership will be determined at a later date.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fVDcM3 SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/3YTLiOw
MN GOP: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “A total of 14 new Republicans — compared to eight new DFL members — were elected to the Minnesota House, [and] historically blue seats turned red for the first time in decades. … Of the three DFL seats that Republicans flipped last week, two were long-time blue seats: 7B in the Iron Range hasn’t been red in 96 years — since 1928 — and 26A in Winona hasn’t been red for 40 years — since 1984. … While some attribute election results to President-elect Donald Trump…other members of the GOP are less quick to cite national politics as the sole reason for turnover. … Rep. Lisa Demuth told Forum News Service that Republican representatives won six seats in areas where Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris won the presidential vote. … GOP Chair David Hann [claims] the Minnesota DFL is disconnected from the ‘ordinary man.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fSaR9I
RECOUNTS: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Two Minnesota House races are headed toward recounts in the coming weeks…but the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library’s data on previous recounts shows that even a 14-vote margin is unlikely to be overturned. … The most recent election in which the tally changed by more than 14 votes (the margin in the [District 54A] race) happened in 2002, when a recount added 26 votes to Republican Raymond Cox’s winning margin. To find an election with initial results overturned by a recount, you have to go back to 1986.” The Scott County recount is Thursday and the Sherburne County recount is next Monday. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3V1a7Hk
VOTING: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “After every statewide election in Minnesota, election officials gather to review the results by doing hand recounts in randomly selected precincts. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says it’s a way to instill confidence that the vote counts are accurate. ‘These required reviews are happening right now across the state in all 87 counties,’ Simon said at the Hennepin County Election Center, where 12 of 397 precincts were being spot checked by election judges. … Also Monday, Simon addressed the case of a chief election judge in Hubbard County charged with two felonies for allegedly allowing 11 voters to cast votes without registering.” SIMON: “We have 30,000 election judges — 99.999% of them do their jobs well. … But you’re going to have, just based on the law of averages, someone who does a bad thing. … This is an example of the resiliency and accuracy of the system because it was caught.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3ZgtHlu
TURNOUT: Via KARE 11’s John Croman, Sec. Steve Simon said at his press conference yesterday that Minnesota is still in first place for turnout, ahead of every other U.S. state — but votes are continuing to be tallied in Wisconsin, and it will likely be a close finish between the two states. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4fTRzAQ
CD3: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “When her colleagues in the state Senate wanted to lunch together, they’d always ask Kelly Morrison to join them, even though they knew their offer would likely be rejected. … ‘We’ll go out to lunch and Kelly can’t come because she’s working on something,’ said state Sen. Alice Mann. Mann and others interviewed for this article used the word ‘workhorse’ to describe Morrison, who has been elected to represent the 3rd District in Congress. … [Morrison] is in training to take her place in the next Congress. She’s in Washington, D.C., for a two-week orientation for Democratic and Republican freshmen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YYrB86
EXPECT: DFL Chair Ken Martin is expected to announce he’s running for DNC Chair today.
MORE: Via Axios’ Torey Van Oot, Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin, who is reportedly one of the top contenders to become the next DNC chair, seems to be actively “auditioning” for the role by increasing his national profile. Martin said on Fox News that the Democratic Party needs to focus more on the economic needs of working class voters, using Minnesota as an example of what strategies the party can bring to the nation. TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4fyfrdt
STUDENTS: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “One in four students are chronically absent, according to state data from the most recent school year. That is a slight improvement over the previous year, but still a problem policymakers want to fix. The Student Attendance and Truancy Legislative Study Group met Monday to get feedback on some of its recommendations, [including] better data collection, more options for transportation of students to school and [having] school staff dedicated to truancy. … A final report from the work group will be put together by the year's end and presented to the legislature when lawmakers return to St. Paul in January.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3CwH6N3
HOUSING: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “A state program that allows tax credits in exchange for contribution to housing projects is off to a good start. The Minnesota State Housing and Tax Credit was first offered a year ago. Contributions go directly toward housing projects in exchange for tax credits. HOWARD: ‘What we saw [is] a lot of progress in a short amount of time last year, and we're going to just see that sort of snowball and pick up more momentum,’ says DFL Rep. Mike Howard of Richfield. ‘It's a program that is working, and the more we kind of prove the concept, the more support we can build at the legislature to put more investment into this.’” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4fxiRwT
MORE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The new Minnesota State Housing Tax Credit Program and Contribution Fund [began] late last year after bipartisan support in the Legislature. The program, administered [by] the state’s housing finance agency, allows individual taxpayers and businesses to make donations to finance affordable housing projects throughout the state. Contributors who donate between $1,000 and $2 million for either an eligible affordable housing project or a general fund receive an 85% tax credit for their contribution.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRZ7FX
FEED FRAUD: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The United States Attorney’s Office detailed dozens of messages between several [Feeding Our Future] co-defendants on Monday as it filed a motion to supplement the presentence investigation report for Mukhtar Shariff. Shariff was convicted for his role in the fraud scandal, but has not been charged with bribing the juror. ‘The government has learned that defendant Shariff knew about the bribery attempt and destroyed communications he had with his co-defendant Abdiaziz Farah about the bribe,’ the motion reads.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Zdegu8
HEMP: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Hi Flora, a Minneapolis vegan restaurant that launched with an alcohol-free bar and THC tinctures on the menu, will close its doors in early December after a series of regulatory and financial hardships. In a post on Instagram, owner Heather Klein said she's been unable to obtain a permanent license for on-sale consumption of low-dose hemp. … Klein explained Minnesota law requires a liquor license to operate a low-dose hemp business, ‘even though [Hi Flora's] entire concept is alcohol-free.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AVXypG
LISTENING, LEARNING AND REDEFINING INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS: “We want to build partnerships with Indigenous Nations. We continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, and that’s informing how we engage communities in B.C. and across North America,” said CEO Greg Ebel of Enbridge’s approach to be the “first-choice partner” for Indigenous Nations interested in pursuing energy infrastructure opportunities. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Yht20R (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
TUTORING: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Eighteen local Somali mothers say they were unknowingly signed up to pay for thousands of dollars in tutoring services through their state tax refunds. … People from their community approached them with promises of free tutoring for their school-age children. Their kids enrolled and found the tutoring unhelpful. Then, the mothers unexpectedly found out months later that thousands of dollars were automatically deducted from their state tax returns to pay for the tutoring. They found themselves mired in a confusing situation involving a state tax credit, local nonprofits that worked with them, private tutoring companies and complex tax processes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AEunaO
UKRAINE: via New York Times, VERBATIM: “President Joe Biden has authorized the first use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes inside Russia. … The weapons are likely to be initially employed against Russian and North Korean troops in defense of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia, the officials said. Mr. Biden’s decision is a major change in U.S. policy. The choice has divided his advisers, and his shift comes two months before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office, having vowed to limit further support for Ukraine.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3AOQJq0
RESPONSE: via a Rep. Betty McCollum statement, McCOLLUM: “Allowing the Armed Forces of Ukraine to use long-range missiles is an appropriate and necessary response to Russia’s severe escalation of their war on the people of Ukraine. In recent months, Russia has escalated their aggression toward Ukrainian civilians, broadened their attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and engaged North Korean troops. … The United States must never stand idly by and allow an autocrat to take a democratic nation by force.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fzBhNz
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
MPLS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Monday [marked] the first in a series of meetings about a new safety center on the south side of Minneapolis. The one that opened earlier this month is meant to be temporary until the city officially opens a center that will include a new Third Precinct in 2026. Mayor Jacob Frey says the permanent center would house a behavioral crisis response team, crime prevention specialists and community groups. It would also take non-emergency calls. At Monday’s meeting, city leaders [shared] recommendations by residents that they’ve gathered from surveys and dozens of engagement meetings.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3AOuiRJ
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “When St. Paul announced it had found a Marshall Avenue building to house homeless residents and others well known to police and emergency responders for repeat incidents, some neighbors rallied against the ‘Familiar Faces’ initiative. Opposition to converting St. Christopher’s Place, Catholic Charities’ low-cost rooming house, into a 30-35 unit, city-owned, service-based facility has unfolded on two fronts, with some questioning the use of federal housing and COVID relief funding and others opposed to lifting a minimum distance requirement from another ‘supportive housing’ group home. … [Now], the mayor’s office hopes to sign a purchase agreement with Catholic Charities before the end of the year and close on the $2.5 million building acquisition in early 2025 before making $3.6 million in improvements.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Octutb
METRO TRANSIT: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “More than a half dozen people set out Monday morning in St. Paul, wearing purple vests and donning trash buckets and pincher tools. Most were homeless, or recently without shelter. They had instructions to clear out litter from several Green Line light rail stations and bus stops throughout the Capitol city. They earn weekly paychecks working for the St. Paul nonprofit Listening House under a pilot program launched earlier this year called St. Paul Work Now. … The program has been expanded to include picking up litter at Metro Transit Green Line stations in St. Paul.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3OfpckD
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT: From Grand Rapids, a conversation about opportunities and challenges to economic growth in Greater Minnesota with Tuleah Palmer, CEO of the Blandin Foundation, Roy Smith of the IRRRB and Steve Loney from Kiesler Wellness Center. From workforce to energy costs, a thoughtful conversation on how leaders are working together to push the region’s economy forward. Mainstreet Minnesota is presented by Compeer Financial. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/MainstreetMN2
ALBANY: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “Parents of freshmen students at Albany Area Secondary School have taken issue with material reportedly shown during a classroom lesson on communication. After reviewing the question and answer options, the district has since agreed the material was ‘inappropriate’ for students. An investigation determined the material was shown due to negligence on the part of the teacher, and the district is going through its own internal discipline protocols. … The alleged material asks how [students] might communicate with their partner a desire to be more ‘adventurous in the bedroom,’ offering a range of options in a multiple choice section.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3OfkSC4
COTTAGE GROVE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “When it comes to PFAS pollution, Cottage Grove considers itself ground zero. The city is currently building a $39 million water treatment plant, and that's just the start. In 2027, there are plans to build a second treatment plant, which the state has earmarked $100 million for. The upkeep of swapping the granular activated carbon and having maintenance and staff costs another several million. … Cottage Grove Public Works Director Ryan Burfeind [said] ‘We're not fortunate to have this issue, [but] we are fortunate to have the 3M settlement funds, no question.’” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41cpRLB
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County commissioners will review proposed updates to local rules anticipating the launch of cannabis retail businesses next year. ‘This is probably our last big ordinance change,’ County Administrator Travis Gransee said of the proposals being presented during the commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. … The proposed county ordinance would limit the number of retailers to 14 within areas under county oversight, which is expected to include Rochester and any other city that opts to give the county local authority.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/410ccH0
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player-signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3O2nzH0 (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
From yesterday’s Fluence newsletters:
POLLING: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the aftermath of the U.S. election – and the deeply contentious second coming of President-elect Donald Trump – news organizations, pundits and voters alike have turned to a time-honored tradition to make sense of the results: scrutinizing pre-election polls. Were the polls accurate? Did they underestimate Trump’s support (again)? And can we learn anything important about voters, and the state of the nation, from poll results in light of Trump’s win? In Minnesota, the answers seem to be yes, no and sort of.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40XJZRv
CONGRESS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minnesota may no longer be the land of competitive congressional races. All eight of Minnesota's U.S. House districts were won by double-digit margins this year. DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, the sole incumbent running in a swing district, sailed to a fourth term with a 13-point victory. The deepening urban-rural political divide has made the state's metro and suburban seats more blue and Greater Minnesota districts increasingly safe for the GOP.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fyt9wK
FARM BILL: via KIMT-TV, VERBATIM: “With the 2024 Farm Bill still idle in the U.S. Senate, groups like the Minnesota Farm Bureau are pushing for politicians to update the legislation before the end of the year. Despite the rest of November and December being considered a lame duck session, Jason Keck, a Young Farmer and Rancher Committee member with the bureau, is optimistic it may still be able to pass due to the necessity in the industry. Between turbulent weather conditions in Minnesota and across the country, complications overseas and shifting commodity markets, Keck says it's important to let legislators know that an updated farm bill is essential.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3YN06ys
MORE TAKES: Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in additional newsletters. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets HERE: fluence-newsletters.com
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will mark the completion of the first phase of the largest solar project in the Upper Midwest.
TOMORROW: via an MN Chamber advisory, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce will release its annual Business Benchmarks report at the 2024 Economic Summit. … The Summit will also feature a keynote speech from the newly elected President of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, where she will discuss her initial time in office and the U’s contributions to Minnesota’s economy.” The event is at 9:00 a.m. in Minneapolis.
TOMORROW: via a joint press release, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Ambulance Association will be holding a roundtable discussion on Wednesday in Dodge Center – ‘The Future of EMS & Ambulance Services in Minnesota’ – with area community, health care and business leaders about the future of ambulance services.” The event is at 1:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: via an OLA advisory, VERBATIM: “The Office of the Legislative Auditor's Financial Audit Division will release the performance audit, Minnesota State Lottery, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. The audit’s key findings and recommendations will be presented to the Legislative Audit Commission at 10:00 a.m. that morning in G3 State Capitol.”
THURS-FRI: via a House DFL advisory, VERBATIM: “The 2024 Winona Model Legislature will convene on Thursday, November 21st, and run through Friday, November 22nd. Members of the media are invited to attend the annual session and opening address at 9:00am, Thursday, in the Kryzsko Commons Ballroom on the Winona State University Campus.” Rep. Gene Pelowski will attend.
WEEKEND: via an MFU advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members from across the state will gather Nov. 22-24 for the 83rd annual Minnesota Farmers Union State Convention. … The event begins on Friday afternoon with panel discussions. The discussions focus on food regulations surrounding selling products direct from the farm, finding funding for projects on your farm and what weather trends mean for farmers. On Saturday and Sunday, members debate the organization’s policy. The policy guides the organization’s advocacy work for the coming year.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3ARx4Wk
BDAYS: Second Harvest’s Sophie Wallerstedt, civic leader Tom Hoch, enviro leader Paul Gardner, Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier, fmr. Rep. Al Juhnke, fmr. Republican candidate for Governor Scott Jensen, CNN’s Randi Kaye
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